Mimulus plant named ‘Georgie Yellow’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mimulus  plant named ‘Georgie Yellow’, characterized by its medium yellow-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Mimulus aurantiacus.

Variety denomination: ‘Georgie Yellow’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Application No. 61/402,201filed on Aug. 25, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mimulusplant botanically known as Mimulus aurantiacus and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Georgie Yellow’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during Jan. 2008. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Mimulus cultivars with attractive flowercoloration and a moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Mimulus cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Mimulus aurantiacusbreeding selection designated nct-5683g, not patented, characterized byits medium golden-yellow colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage,low growth vigor, and compact, upright growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Mimulus aurantiacusbreeding selection designated MIM-214, not patented, characterized byits medium yellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, lowgrowth vigor, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discoveredand selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during January 2009 in a controlled environmentin Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJanuary 2009 in Guadalupe, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Georgie Yellow’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Mimulus plant:

-   -   1. Medium yellow-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in growth vigor and habit.

Of the many commercially available Mimulus cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Valentine’, not patented. However,in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ fromplants of ‘Valentine’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured        by leaf length and leaf width, than plants of ‘Valentine’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller corolla, as measured        by vertical axis and horizontal axis, than plants of        ‘Valentine’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Valentine’.

In addition, the new cultivar is similar to ‘Jelly Bean Yellow’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,973. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Jelly Bean Yellow’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is more        yellow than plants of ‘Jelly Bean Yellow’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller corolla, as measured        by vertical axis and horizontal axis, than plants of ‘Jelly Bean        Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Georgie Yellow’.The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse atWest Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Georgie Yellow’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘GeorgieYellow’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in December 2010 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 12 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70°F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F.to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Mimulus aurantiacus cultivar Georgie    Yellow.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Mimulus aurantiacus breeding            selection designated nct-5683g, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Mimulus aurantiacus breeding            selection designated MIM-214, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 25            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 27.2 cm. Width: Approximately 23.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Length:            Approximately 20.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture:            Glabrous, viscid, densely glandular pubescent. Color of            young and mature stems: 145D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 22. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, slightly reflexed.            Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Rounded acute. Base:            Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.8 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            1.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, glossy. Texture            of lower surface: Glabrous, viscid, densely glandular            pubescent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137A            with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface of            young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of            147C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Darker than            137A with indistinguishable venation.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous, viscid, densely            glandular pubescent. Color: 144C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Georgie Yellow’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            2 to 3 weeks.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform, zygomorphic,            axillary, facing outward. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 6. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 4.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongate. Length:            Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous, slightly viscid, glandular pubescent.            Color: Sepals of 144B with folded midvein area of 137A,            lobes of 5B.        -   Corolla.—Vertical axis: Approximately 3.8 cm. Horizontal            axis: Approximately 3.3 cm.        -   Lobes.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Fan-shaped,            upper two lobes reflexed. Margin: Irregularly sinuate and            ruffled. Apex: Obtuse to truncate. Length from tube of upper            two lobes: Approximately 2.0 cm. Length from tube of lower            lobes: Approximately 1.6 cm. Width of upper two lobes:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Width of lower lobes: Approximately            1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first open: 5B. Color of lower surface            when first open: 5C. Color of upper surface when fully open:            5C. Color of lower surface when fully open: 5D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 4D with two nectar glides            at base of lower lobe of 5B. Color of outer surface: 5D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Elliptic,            folded at midveins. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length:            Approximately 2.5 cm with one upper sepal of approximately            3.0 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous, slightly viscid, glandular            pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B with            folded midvein area of 137A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,            didynamous, basifixed. Stamen length of longer pair:            Approximately 3.3 cm. Stamen length of shorter pair:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Filament length of fixed portion:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Filament color: 1D. Anther shape:            Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther            color: 25B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 4B.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 3.6 cm. Stigma shape: Flattened, bilobed.            Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 155D.            Style length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Style color: 155A. Ovary            length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Mimulus has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Mimulus plant named ‘Georgie Yellow’,substantially as herein shown and described.